Just Over This Mountain

We are taught through our Book of Mormon in the story of Alma that God will shape our backs to bear the burdens that are placed upon us. The people of Alma are in bondage and have to carry heavy burdens for their captors. As they pray to God to lighten their load He does. Notice they don't pray for God to take the burden away. They pray that the load will feel lighter and they can bear it. He shaped their backs and allowed them to possess the strength to continue on. They bore this trial well and were eventually freed from this terrible situation. They went on to live happy full lives with the light of God all around them as their lived His Gospel.

That is what amazes me most about working with the Lord to overcome. When it feels as if there is no possible way to overcome the storms if we can just hold on and work hard to row against the tossing waves. Even though it feels as if we are making no progress at all God is there strengthening us speaking to our minds to just keep going. Christs light pulls us from the shore and begs us to continue that we are close. His light warms us, leads us, guides us, and pulls us home. Finally we stand on the shore our legs and arms burn and ache from the burden. But, our hearts and minds are light with love,hope and happiness. Just over the mountain step by step we reach a new level of living. A level that holds so much joy its unexplainable. It's a place that reminds us that heaven is there. God is watching over us and wants us to return to him. If we can just hold on and fight through the trials we too will someday truly enjoy the great Utopia that Heaven holds.

I know this all to be true because I have reached the shore, the top of the mountain and have been looking over the trail I just worked through and I know I didn't do it alone. I know he wants you to fight through your storms, and climb your mountains one step at a time. The price, the cost, the pain is worth every step, every aching row against the waves. You can do it. I know you can. And when you reach the top, when you reach the shore and feel the love of God and see how much He and the Savior helped you get through you will stand in awe at His mercies and His love for one so small as you.

Don't give up. God loves you and wants you to grow and become all you can.